| maltby_gardner
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DarkChocolate wrote: I just spent the last couple hours catching up on the Couch-to-5K thread, and am excited to notice than in addition to maltby_gardner (*enthusiastic wave Hello!*), EverLore is also on this team!
I know, isn't that cool? Our team rocks!
Quote: Also, I noticed the coolest thing - after having done daily crunches for a couple weeks, I was able to feel real ab muscles developing, which was really cool. Well last night I discovered that if I feel the muscles while holding a crunch position, my ab muscles feel REALLY hard! Oh man, it was mind-blowing. Honestly, when I started doing crunches, I felt like they were something I SHOULD be doing, but I had no real expectations they they would ACTUALLY "do" anything noticeable! But sure enough, there are abdominal muscles developing which I certainly know weren't noticeable before! The muscles are still covered with a layer of "squish" :) but this seems to be diminishing as well. So it's exciting.
I know what you mean. I keep pretty close tabs on my measurements and my waist definitely has benefitted from the crunches. Also, my glutes are showing some serious development! When I started out, they were about the size of walnuts covered in inches of flab! It was a wonder I could walk or even stand, let alone climb stairs. But now, there's hardly any flab left! It's amazing. The running has helped so much. I can hardly wait to see what can happen when I can run continuously on a regular basis. And now I'm adding a legs and butt routine to my weight training. Maybe I'll get a nice, round tush after all...no more baggy britches for me! |
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Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:02 pm |
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| Rommel
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A-Rod, can you change our team name to "Shapeshifters!" We're going for a sci-fi kind of name. Thanks!
Now I'm off to exercise! |
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Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:59 pm |
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| DarkChocolate
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I just did weight machines at the gym, and got in my 3-mile run (whew!) so I'm feeling great.
Also, I bought my own yoga mat today! I spent a bit of time at work today looking up some info online about what to look for, and then went to Marshalls and TJMaxx just to see if they might have anything decent (since I know they always have a bunch of discounted exercise gear). Well at TJMaxx I found this great mat by Gaiam that's nice and thick and made of a great-sounding material (and since it was at TJMaxx it was only $19.99 instead of its normal $39.99!) So that's pretty exciting. I might try it out tonight when I do my yoga "homework."
Hooray Shapeshifters! We're doing awesomely :) How did everyone else's days go?? |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:44 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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| I just finished my workout. 60 minutes on the treadmill at an easy walk, 4-5% incline. Crunches, dips, leg extension and curls. Food, check. Water, check. I think I'm good for today. Oh yeah, stretching, too. Congrats on the yoga mat, DC. I use mine, not for yoga obviously, since I don't know any, but for stretching. So slipping of my be-socked feet on the carpet! |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:24 am |
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| Rommel
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Finished my cardio and strength training for the day. My husband had a meeting and then bocce ball so we didn't get to go on our hike today so no bonus cardio. I am a little sore from all this cardio and weights--that'll teach me not to slack off for so long. I'm so glad to be back into it--I feel so much better already and have a lot more energy.
I completed one of my goals today and that was to try a new SB friendly recipe. I made Rachel Ray's "Turkey Club Salad with Avocado Dressing." I'd have to say it was just okay which surprised me as it was a five star recipe. Maybe the dressing will be better after it sits all night--I expected a little more flavor from it. The turkey bacon was good in it--saved the salad really. Well, back to the drawing board.
Your yoga sounds interesting Dark Chocolate. I always thought I should be doing something like that as I'm not very flexible and that would help immensely. I've been doing a little stretching and that helps some but I'm sure yoga helps a LOT. Keep us posted on how you like it.
Haven't heard much from a lot of our fellow Shapeshifters this week. I hope everyone is just too busy "working it" to post. Doing the challenge I'm sure cuts into a lot of people's computer time.
I've already planned a long hike with my sister for Sunday while our husbands build some steps into the hillside. Everyone is getting exercise! Then we have a barbecue planned for later when the rest of the family comes over. My husband got a new Traeger smoker barbecue last weekend and boy, are they awesome. We had chicken breasts, and ball tips on a friend's and it was the juciest meat I've ever tasted. Can't wait to "practice" on it. We're going to try doing the chicken breasts. It's nice to plan fun things to look forward to.
Better go make my lunch for work and get a few chores done. I plan to go to bed a little early and read--love that!
Everyone have a great evening! |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:35 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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| Oh, I wish I could go to bed early and read...I have to work instead. :( At least when I'm working, I'm sitting at my computer, so I can check in here frequently! :D |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:39 am |
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| Rommel
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| How late do you have to work? What a bummer! I really enjoy my private time and when my husband is playing bocce--I can do WHATEVER I want from 6-8:30 when I have to go to bed. When he's home we do everything together so if I try to read, he's like "waiting for me to finish" so he can talk to me or whatever. I LOVE Thursday night. Goodness, I sound awful but I really do like my own time as well as together time. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:48 am |
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| DarkChocolate
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Rommel wrote: Your yoga sounds interesting Dark Chocolate. I always thought I should be doing something like that as I'm not very flexible and that would help immensely. I've been doing a little stretching and that helps some but I'm sure yoga helps a LOT. Keep us posted on how you like it.
So far I'm really excited about it. It's a 4-week thing, meeting on Monday nights. There are other classes at the studio though of course (on Wednesday nights they have a variety of different "grab-bag" classes, which was what I wanted to go to last night that was cancelled).
If I really like it, I want to sign up for the monthly "unlimited" membership that lets you go to whatever class you want. It costs the same as four classes, so as long as I go at least once a week it'd be worthwhile. For this month though I'm just sticking to these beginner classes to see how it goes! (The beginner classes are separate from the regular ones, so I'd have to pay for them even if I was also paying the monthly fee, so it makes sense to wait it out for now so I'm not paying double!)
I'm really looking forward to it as I have never even been remotely flexible. Even when I was little! But I've also never been much of a runner, and here I've been finding I CAN do that after all, so why not give this a try too!
I also think it'll be good to go along with the running, to kinda "balance" it out... I have all these new muscles developing, but even with normal stretching they feel kinda tight and weird, so I'm thinking the yoga might help loosen them up.
Also, my posture and general stress level could use some work, so I'm hoping I'll get some relaxation out of this yoga thing too! We'll see how it goes! |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:06 am |
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| maltby_gardner
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| I want to try yoga, too, but the classes around here are really expensive. Hence my goal to find a yoga DVD. Although I've never been athletic, I am flexible (probably because I'm so freakin' weak! :evil: ), so I think I wouldn't feel too uncomfortable doing a class, but I'm not sure. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:21 am |
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| Rommel
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If you ever find a good yoga dvd MG, I'd sure be interested!
Well, DC--it sure seems like you've found your passion in running and yoga. I envy you that. When you enjoy something like that and your head is into it, it is so much easier to do and a lot more fun. I haven't felt that way about exercise since my college days of tennis and volleyball. I need to find my exercise "passion" that would fit into my lifestyle today that I would TRULY enjoy. I hike now but it's just okay and the elliptical is just a necessary evil. I'll keep looking--I need to try some new things. I enjoy your posts and can feel your enthusiasm--very inspiring.
I'm off to read for awhile. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:42 am |
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| justright
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Hey ShapeShifters! I'm just checking in- I 'fell' off from exercise and eating well yesterday...long story short: 12 hour work day and 5 hours sleep.
BUT! I'm back up early today and ready to knock out some more cardio. I have been meeting my goals of tracking everything...boy that's an eye opener :shock:
On Yoga- I generally rotate several dozen FIRM work out routines, but a friend sent me Baron Baptiste Power Yoga Level 1. I though yeah yeah yoga is for sissy's who want to stretch and not really work out, and
Level 1? I'm in so much better shape than that.......HAHAHA. the joke is one me! This guy kicks your butt - in a nice way :wink: - and you will discover muscles you never had before. there is one chick on there that I swear has to be half rubber the way she can move. You can break this wk out into 3-15 min sessions, but when I do it I do the 45 min. and my muscles are literally quivering. Another big advantage for me is I am definatley a morning work out type person, and I can do this one in my PJ's! |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:30 am |
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| EverLore
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I have Baron Baptiste's Yoga Bootcamp box, and I love it. Granted, he's kind of funny to listen to (I admit to breaking into small fits of giggles at some of the things he says) but I really like it! I have two 20 minute workouts and a 70 minute workout. They'll definitely kick your butt! :)
So yesterday I got in more strength training (my third one this week - whoo hoo, bonus points!) and I got in my fourth cardio workout, so everything else after this is just gravy :) ... I just really need to work at getting my water in now.
It's raining and yucky today. Maybe now is the time to pull out the yoga? *tries to motivate herself* |
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Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:41 pm |
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| Rommel
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I just returned from a 90 minute hike-whew! My husband got home early and we headed out with no intention of going that long but you do get into it after a certain point. And, once out there............I wanted to earn the extra bonus points. I had to really push to do that last half hour as I've been up and on my feet since 3:30 this morning and I was dying to go in and just rest and put my feet up. I kind of wish bonus points were limited as I do tend to get a bit excessive--moderation is the key over the long haul but since this is limited to 4 weeks, I have time for moderation later--I don't think I could keep this pace up indefinately but it does seem to be getting a little easier--once you START your workout. I really do feel better already physically and mentally.
I'm going to do my lower body workout later on after dinner. That's pretty easy to fit in and strength training really makes a big difference in fitness.
Better go and get the rest of the dinner going. Dh is barbecuing chicken are we are having rice and broccoli with it--pretty easy, thank goodness--it's been a long week. TGIF!!!!!!!!!
I'm actually looking forward to exercising tomorrow when I'm not so tired from work. It will be nice to do it in the MORNING and have it done or at least half way done.
Have a good evening everyone. Oh, and you may want to start tallying your points at least so far to see where you're at and to make it easier on yourself at the end of the week. Post Sunday night or Monday as early as you can so I can get everything tabulated and posted. I'll post a thread Sunday for you to put your scores. Aren't you all dying to know where we stand??? |
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Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:48 am |
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| EverLore
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I did nothing today :( ...except cook a healthy dinner (one of my goals).
Actually, I went for a 40 minute walk with my mom, does that count as cardio? :lol: because if it does, that's bonus points!
Also, high-five to Rommel for the 90 minute hike!! :mrgreen: |
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Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:09 am |
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| larissahp
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| Hey guys just checking in here I haven't vanished but I've been SOO busy lately. I'm getting married in September so I've been planning my wedding. I'll post how well my week went later today. Just wanted to let you all know I'm still here! |
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Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:49 am |
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